TAPPS Championships Recap: Girls 800m

Lorelei Bryant capped off a stellar freshman campaign with a commanding victory in the 2025 TAPPS 1A Girls 800m championship. The San Angelo Cornerstone Christian standout crossed the line in 2:23.33, winning by more than five seconds and adding another state title to her résumé after placing second in the 400m (1:01.18) earlier in the meet. Bryant showcased a rare blend of speed and strength, positioning herself near the front early and gradually pulling away with a controlled second lap. Her consistency across both sprint and middle-distance events marks her as a rising star in TAPPS competition.

Hannah Murphy of Texoma Christian, already a proven force in the distance events, claimed silver in 2:28.90, staying comfortably ahead of the rest of the field. The sophomore added the 800m runner-up finish to her 1600m championship, where she ran 5:46.87 to defend her 2024 title. Murphy's strength over longer distances proved advantageous in a tactical 800m field, helping her earn valuable team points while continuing her impressive progression.

The battle for third saw Hallie Collins of Azle Christian School secure bronze in 2:37.82, holding off a group of challengers that included several athletes who also ran the 1600m or 400m. Kaylee Wolff of Faith Lutheran (4th, 2:44.61) and Catalina Flores of Waxahachie Prep (5th, 2:44.87) each showed great range, with both having top-five finishes in the 1600m as well. Flores in particular continues to demonstrate promise as a freshman after also placing second in the 1600m (6:02.29).

Rounding out the finalists were Ashley Anderson (6th), Kenzie Armstrong (7th), and Paige Hildebrand (8th), all of whom doubled back from strong performances in either the 1600m or earlier races. 

Altogether, the 2025 TAPPS 1A Girls 800m final highlighted a blend of experienced sophomores and promising underclassmen, with Bryant's emergence as a multi-event threat and Murphy's continued dominance in the distance realm standing out as defining storylines.

The 2025 TAPPS 2A Girls 800m Championship was a showcase of emerging talent, headlined by Clara Gibson, a freshman from Valor Prep Academy, who surged to victory in a time of 2:21.47. Her performance marked a strong debut on the championship stage, as she pulled away late in the second lap to claim gold. Gibson's win established her as one of TAPPS' top young middle-distance prospects, and it came just moments before her teammate Ellie Buck, last year's runner-up in this event, placed second in the 400m final.

Finishing second in the 800m was Keely Aguilar of Dallas Alcuin School, running 2:23.94 to hold off a deep field. Aguilar returned later in the meet to win the 1600m, posting a time of 5:21.63, capping off an outstanding distance double. In both races, she outdueled Emma Rhodes of Red Oak Ovilla Christian, who took third in the 800m (2:27.47) and second in the 1600m (5:27.52), rounding out a tough but commendable performance to close her senior season. Rhodes, who also earned bronze in this event last year, maintained her spot on the podium with another strong showing.

The battle for fourth saw Kristin Cerny of Shiner St. Paul cross in 2:33.30, followed closely by Sadie Wood of Lubbock Southcrest Christian (2:33.96). Both athletes returned later in the 1600m, with Wood clocking 5:55.50 for fourth in that race. Meanwhile, Emma Schmidt of Hallettsville Sacred Heart ran 2:37.89 for seventh in the 800m and also competed in the 400m earlier in the meet, where she finished seventh in 1:04.80.

Looking back at the 2024 results, the top two medalists from this year-Gibson and Aguilar-took the reins from veterans like Brooke Cerny and Ellie Buck, indicating a generational shift in the event. The continued presence of names like Rhodes, who improved from third to third again, and Wood, who expanded her range, shows the depth and resilience in the TAPPS 2A distance field. With several top performers returning in 2026, the 800m promises to remain one of the most competitive events in the classification.

The 2025 TAPPS 3A Girls 800m Championship showcased a new wave of middle-distance talent, with Isabelle Eppers, a sophomore from Providence Classical, claiming the state title in a well-executed performance. Eppers clocked 2:27.69 to take the win in a tactical race that saw several position changes through the first lap. Her victory marked a strong improvement from last season's overall slower race pace across the division and continued Providence Classical's emergence as a distance powerhouse in 3A.

Finishing just behind Eppers was Khylee Webber, a standout freshman from Kennedale Fellowship Academy, who crossed the line in 2:28.83. Webber's ability to hang with the older competitors and then double back in the 400m final, where she placed eighth in 1:06.11, demonstrated both her versatility and her promising future. Rounding out the top three in the 800m was Scarlett Skeels of Covenant Classical, who ran 2:31.11, continuing her school's tradition of strength in the mid-distance events following Caroline Schroeder's podium finish last season.

Eppers' teammate, Sarah Kleppel, added to Providence's depth by finishing fourth in the 800m (2:32.76) and then returning later in the meet to win the 1600m in a time of 5:39.53, making her one of the meet's most impressive two-event performers. Providence also saw freshman Savannah Ohmes grab third in the 1600m, giving the team three athletes in the top four across the two longest distance races-a dominant showing.

Ellie Maurer of Central Texas Christian placed fifth in the 800m (2:36.40) and came back to run 1:05.59 in the 400m, finishing fifth again, showing her value in both middle-distance events. Audrey Team (Abilene Christian), Audrey Pahmiyer (Waco Live Oak), and Lauren Birbari (Covenant Classical) rounded out the top eight in the 800m, with Birbari making her second straight state final appearance after placing seventh in 2024.

The 2025 championship saw times tighten up from last year's final, with a stronger overall field and multiple underclassmen establishing themselves for future seasons. With Eppers and Kleppel returning, and rising stars like Webber already challenging at the front, the future of TAPPS 3A girls' mid-distance looks incredibly bright.

The 2025 TAPPS 4A Girls 800m Championship marked a breakout performance for freshman Hanna Barbouti of St. Francis Episcopal, who took control of the race and never looked back. Barbouti clocked 2:23.29 to win the state title in her debut season, edging just ahead of last year's winning mark and solidifying herself as one of TAPPS' top young middle-distance runners. Her victory adds to a remarkable triple on the weekend, as Barbouti also ran in both the 400m and 1600m finals.

Abigail Grounds of Fort Worth Temple Christian, a sophomore, took runner-up honors in 2:30.80, holding off Molly McCabe of Tyler TK Gorman, who placed third in 2:31.10. Both athletes returned later for the 1600m and continued to show endurance and grit. McCabe finished third in the 1600m (5:47.36) and Grounds' teammate, Courtney Clinkinbeard, took fifth in that same race, pointing to a promising young distance core for Temple Christian.

Barbouti's dominance extended across the meet. She returned for the 400m, where she placed fourth with a time of 1:01.74, and then went on to win the 1600m title in 5:34.21, completing a highly impressive 800m-1600m double with top-four 400m support-a rare feat, especially for a freshman.

Also notable in the 800m was Savannah Parker, another standout freshman from San Antonio Christian at Castle Hills, who placed fourth in 2:34.09. Like Barbouti and McCabe, Parker ran the 1600m as well, placing just behind McCabe in fourth (5:47.58). Ella Garcia of Corpus Christi St. John Paul II was fifth in the 800m and also returned in the 400m later that day, where she placed seventh.

Compared to the 2024 edition of the race, Barbouti's 2:23.29 was just under Charlotte Freeman's winning time of 2:22.70, but ahead of the rest of last year's top finishers. This year's race had fewer sub-2:26 performances, but the emergence of freshmen like Barbouti and Parker signals a youth movement in 4A girls' middle distance.

In all, Barbouti's versatility and championship poise stole the spotlight, while a strong group of underclassmen rounded out one of the most promising 800m fields the classification has seen in recent memory.

The 2025 TAPPS 5A Girls 800m Championship featured a strong and competitive field, but it was Sophia Belcher, a rising sophomore from Grapevine Faith Christian, who emerged victorious with an impressive time of 2:19.36. Belcher's win marked a major breakthrough in her young career, as she held off a talented group of upperclassmen, including senior Charlotte Freeman of Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy, who placed second in 2:21.21. The two were neck and neck through the second lap, but Belcher's final 150m surge sealed her first state title.

Rounding out the podium was freshman Ellie Scott from San Antonio Saint Mary's Hall, who ran 2:22.41, signaling her presence as a name to watch in future state meets. Senior Sophia Lee of Houston Emery Weiner finished just behind in fourth at 2:23.06, improving on her 2024 finish of 2:29.77 and closing out her career with a significant performance jump.

The 800m final was rich with returning talent from last season. Brooke Perry of Fort Bend Christian took fifth in 2:25.70, a slight regression from her fourth-place finish (2:22.10) a year ago, while Mallory West of Midland Christian, who placed fifth in 2024, returned to finish eighth this year in 2:35.85. Her teammate Katelynn Vines placed seventh in 2:30.98, giving Midland a strong showing with two runners in the final.

Several 800m athletes returned later in the meet to compete in the 1600m, showcasing their range. Belcher came back to finish second in 5:14.25, just behind Tyler Grace Community's Emma Goetz, who had placed sixth in the 800m and won the 1600m in 5:11.92. West also doubled back for a seventh-place finish in the 1600m, running 5:47.42.

Compared to the 2024 final, this year's race was slightly slower up front, with last year's champion running 2:16.82. However, the depth remained consistent, and the emergence of underclassmen like Belcher, Scott, and Goetz bodes well for the future of TAPPS 5A middle-distance racing.

San Antonio Antonian's Micaela Villarreal capped off a remarkable TAPPS career with a commanding win in the 2025 6A Girls 800m championship, clocking 2:13.54 to secure her first state title in the event. Villarreal, a senior, was dominant from the gun, using her experience and strength to outpace a loaded field that included several sub-2:20 runners. This performance marks a full-circle moment for Villarreal, who has been one of the most consistent and accomplished distance athletes in TAPPS over the past four years. From the 5,000m cross country trails to middle-distance track events, her legacy is etched into TAPPS history as one of its all-time greats. Overcoming health challenges in her high school journey, Villarreal's resilience was on full display in this championship performance.

Behind her, Presley Andras of Dallas Ursuline Academy continued her impressive junior campaign with a 2:14.90 finish to earn silver. Andras, last year's third-place finisher, improved her standing and doubled back later in the meet with a strong runner-up finish in the 1600m at 5:06.89, making her one of the top two-way distance threats in the state. Her teammate Marit Beckman also had a busy day, placing fourth in the 800m (2:21.56) and returning shortly after to take second in the 400m (58.99), showcasing elite versatility.

Madeleine Holland of Liberty Christian placed third in the 800m at 2:19.46, an improvement on her 2024 season and a solid tune-up before claiming the 1600m title later in the meet with a brilliant 5:04.77. She led a strong field that included Georgia Giesinger of Nolan Catholic, who finished sixth in the 800m (2:23.56) before returning to take third in the 1600m (5:07.06)-a reversal of her state title from 2024 when she won the 800m in 2:20.09.

Houston St. Agnes had a duo of athletes contribute in the distance events, led by Sophie Da Silva, who finished fifth in the 800m (2:21.62) and fifth in the 1600m (5:25.77). Her younger sister Roselynne Da Silva, a freshman, followed close behind in both races, placing seventh in the 800m and sixth in the 1600m. 

In comparing this year's field to the 2024 final, the quality has only increased. Last year's champion, Giesinger, was just off the podium this time but still delivered a strong meet. The depth of returning stars like Beckman, Andras, and Holland shows the strength of TAPPS 6A girls distance running-and at the top, Villarreal's victory was the final stamp on a high school career that stands among the most storied in TAPPS history.